fundamental line

In voice-leading analysis, the fundamental line is the deepest level of melodic organization in a tonal work. It consists of a linear descent from a specific note of the tonic chord to the tonic note, written as 3-2-1 or 5-4-3-2-1, or (unusually) 8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1. According to Heinrich Schenker's theory of tonal structure, each note of the fundamental line must be supported by a structural harmony. The first note of the fundamental line is called the primary tone (Kopfton or head-note), and this is often prolonged for the bulk of the piece. A section of the piece before the primary tone appears is called the ‘ascent’, the section prolonging it is called the ‘structure’, the section prolonging the other notes of the fundamental line is the ‘descent’, and a section prolonging the last note is the ‘peroration’.